Portable electric lantern



` (No Model.)

W. FRISHMUTH. PORTABLE ELECTRIC LANTERN.

Patented June @WT/H8858.'

N. PETERS. PhalLilhogl-upher. wasmnglon. n.0,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM FRISHMUTII, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PORTABLE ELECTRIC LANTERN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 404,698, dated June 4, 1889. Application filed November 8, 1888. Serial No. 290,322. (No model.)

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that LWILLIAM FnIsHMUTH, of Philadelphia, Philadelphia county, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in lPortable Electric Lanterns, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a lantern wherein the light is produced by an incandescing electric lamp.

My invention consists in a galvanic cell or battery which supports on its exterior the electric lamp and supplies current thereto, in the novel construction and arrangement of the electrodes in said cell, in the combination with said cell of a separate chamber containing a fresh supply of exciting-liquid, and in the general construction and combinations, all as hereinafter more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a vertical transverse section of my lantern on the line 0c of Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a plan view, with a portion of the top of the upper compartment or receptacle broken away to show the interior construction. Fig. 3 is a plan view with the upper compartment removed. Fig. i is an enlarged detail view of the mechanism for supporting the battery-plates in elevated position out of the liquid. Fig. 5 is a detail View showing the manner of connect ing the battery-plates to the rock-shaft.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

A is the containing-vessel, which I make, preferably, of hard rubber, paper, or other lightnon-conducting material. In case any material is chosen which is attackable by acids, the interior of the vessel is to be covered with any suitable protecting-varnish. The vessel A is divided into a number of cells or compartments, as B B', by transverse partitions, as C C', of material similar to that of the case A. Extending across the vessel A, at right angles to said compartments and at one side of said vessel, is arock-shaft D, which is made of wood or other insulating material. Upon said shaft are placed aseries of collars or rings F. E' F F', dac.v To the rings E E', dac., are secured by screw-bolts G, Fig. 5, the zinc plates II II', ctc., and to the rings F F', &c., are sccurcd in like manner by bolts I,

Fig. 5, carbon plates J J', dac. As here shown, the rings E, which support the zinc plates H I-I', ttc., are fast upon the shaft D, while the rings F, which support the carbon plates J J', dac., are loose upon said shaft. Hence when the shaft D is rotated the zinc plates II may be lifted out of the exciting-liquid K, which is contained in the compartments B B', dac., while carbons J J', &c., will remain suspended in said liquid, because the shaft D freely turns within the rings supporting said carbon. It is not, however, essential that the carbon plates J be loose upon the shaft D,because I may make their rings F fast upon said shaft in the same manner as are the rings E, so that when the shaft D is turned all the plates may be simultaneously lifted out of the liquid. The rings E E', itc., F F', 85o., may be made fast to the shaft D at will by means of the set-screws L, which pass through them. The plates II J are arranged in pairs, one pair being disposed in each compartment B B', &c., and between the plates of each pair is interposed a collar M, of rubber or other insulatin g material.

As will be seen from Figs. 3 and 5, there is electrical connection between the carbon plate in one compartment and the zinc plate in the next adjacent compartment, so that the several cells are thus electrically connected in series. This connection is effected by the rings to which said plates are attached being placed in contact on the shaft. In Fig. 5 the rings E' and F and E" and F' are shown thus arranged. The shaft D passes through the side of vessel A, and has at one extremity a ratchet-wheel N, and outside of said wheel N a crank-handle O. A pivoted pawl P engages with said ratchet, as shown in Fig. 4. It will be seen that by turning the crank O in one direction the ratchet-teeth will slip under the pawl P, and through the engagement of the pawl with said teeth ,the battery-plates may be supported at various elevations, so that more or less of their area may enter the exciting-liquid. At the opposite end of the shaft D is a metallic cap Q, electrically connected with the last carbon-'plate-supporting ring. This cap passes through the bearing of the shaft in the side of vessel Q, and makes Ico contact with a strip of metal R, which extends along the side of the vessel and around to the front thereof, where it is provided with a clamp-screw S. At the other end of shaft D an annular projection from the ring E, which supports the last Zinc plate, extends through the bearing of the shaftand makes contact with the strip of metal R', similar to strip R., which extends along the opposite side of vessel A, and comes around to the front thereof, where it is provided with a clampscrew S', similar to screw S. The batterycircuit is therefore from screw S to plate R, to cap Q, and Vthen ce through the several cells to strip R' and screw S'.

T is a metal cylinder, in which is arranged any suitable form of incandescing electric lamp, as U. The rear side of said cylinder is closed. The front of the said cylinder is covered with glass, which may be an ordinary bulls-ej e or lens, which is held in place by the removable rim IV. "Within the cylinder 'l and in the rear of the lamp U is arranged areiiector. On the back of the cylinder T are two metal strips insulated from each other, one of which is shown at a, Fig. l. These strips communicate by wires, as l), with the terminals of the lamp U. The strips a may be slotted or made in hook form, or in any other way conveniently arranged so as to be applied, respectively, to the screws S S', and the cylinder T is thus secured in place upon the exterior of the vessel A. Circuitis also completed from the battery through the lamp U.

It will be readily understood that when it is desired that the lamp U should glow the battery-plates are lowered into the liquid K, and when it is desired to extinguish the light the battery-plates are elevated out of said liquid. By immersing said plates more or less in the liquid the strength of the current can be varied and the degree of illumination at the lamp controlled.

Supported upon the vessel A is a hollow lid or detachable vessel c, here shown provided with a ange d on its lower side, which enters the top of vessel A. Any suitable means may here be applied to make the joint between the box or chamber c and the vessel A a tight one. In Fig. I the box c is shown as secured in place by hooks and pins e; but any other convenient mode of attachment maybe substituted. On the upper side of box c is a handle f, which serves as a means of carrying the entire lantern when the box c and vessel A are fastened together. In Fig. l this handle is shown as folded over, its upright supports being' pivoted at g. Extendingtransversely along the bottom of box c and within said box is a tube h, in the center of which is arranged a valve i. The stem k of said valve extends up through the top of box c, and terminates in a milled head, by which said valve may be conveniently turned in its seat, so as to allow access of the liquid Z, which is contained in the chamber c through the interior of pipe 7L. In pipe -h are openings m, which connect with tubes fn. Then the valve 'L' is opened, the liquid in chamber c flows into tube 71, and thence through openings m and tubes n into the vessel A, so as to fill the compartments B 1B. In Fig. 2 but two openings m are shown in pipe 71.. The liquid iiows through these openin gs into the compart ments immediately below them, and thence overflows over the partitions c into the other compartment. In the upper part of chamber c is an opening provided with a funnel 0, for convenience in filling said chamber. In the side of said chamber lis a slot p covered with glass, for showing the height of the liquid therein, and in the side of vessel A is a similar slot Q, also covered with glass and servinga like purpose. In the bottom of vessel A, and extending across the several compartments, is a tube r, which communicates with each of said compartments by openings This tube extends through the side of the vessel A, and is provided with a faucet t, Fig. Its object is to allow the liquid in the compartments in vessel A to be drawn off at will.

The liquid in chamber c is intended as a fresh supply to replenish the strength. of the liquid in vessel A as fast as the strength of the last named liquid becomes exhausted. The spent liquid in the vessel A is removed through the tube r, and the new liquid admitted from chamber c as fast as is required.

The device as a whole is made of such size as to be conveniently carried in the hand by the handle and it forms a very"7 convenient electric lantern, especially adapted to uses where an exposed flame should not be employed. It will serve as a substitute for the safety-lamp in mines, and in all localities where iniiammable gases are present. It 1n ay be safely used in the presence of explosives, as in magazines, and is especially applic. ble to employment on railroads or on board ship, where the iiame of an ordinary lantern is apt to be blown outby strong drafts.

I claim#- l. The combination, in a galvanie cell, of a containing-vessel, a rockshaft extending across the same, an electrode rigidly secured at its upper portion to said shaft, and an electrode loosely secured to said shaft, the said shaft freely rotating in said last-mentioned electrode and carrying said first-mentioned electrode with it during its movement of rotation, substantially as described.

2. The combination, in a galvauic cell, of the vessel A, rock-shaft D, electrodes ll' J', and rings E' Ii", supporting said electrodes, substantially as described.

3. The combination, in a galvanic cell, of the vessel A, rock-shaft D, of insulating material, electrodes Il J', rings E' F', supporting said electrodes, and interposed ring M, of insulating material, substantially as described.

4.. In a galvanic cell, the combination of a vessel containing the electrodes and electro- IOO IIO

lyte, a closed chamber or compartment detachably supported upon and hermetically closing the said vessel, and a valve in the lower part of said chamber, the said chamber being adapted to contain a supply of electrolytic liquid, and the said valve being disposed so as to govern the escape of said liquid from said chamber into said vessel, substantially as described.

5. In combination with the vessel A, containing the elements of a galvanic cell and provided With'the slot q, covered with transparent material, of the closed chamber c, supported upon and liermetically closing said vessel and provided with the slot p, covered with transparent material, a valve arranged in the bottom of said chamber and operating to govern the escape of liquid from said chamber, and a means of operating' said valve outside of said chamber, substantially as described.

6. The combination of a containing-vessel divided into compartments, as B B', a rockshaft D, extending across said compartments, a pair of electrodes, as .I H J' Il', in each of said compartments, a series of conductingrings, as E F E F', upon said shaft and supporting said electrodes, the rings, as F E', supporting the positive and negative electrodes, respectively, of adjacent compart- 3o ments being in electrical contact, and the rings, as E F', supporting the positive and negative electrodes in the same compartment being insulated from each other, substantially as described.

7. The combination of the vessel A, containing the elements of a galvanic cell, plates R R' upon the exterior of said vessel and respectively electrically connected to the electrodes of said cell, an incandescing electric lamp and support T therefor, and means, such as clamping-screws S S', for detachably connecting said support to said plates R R', substantially as described.

8. The combination, with the vessel A, containing the elements of a galvanic cell, circuit-connections, and clamping devices, such as screws S S', of the cylinder T, circuit-connection, and lamp U therein, substantially as described.

WILLIAM FRISHMUTH. Vitnesses:

E. Il. BAILEY, WM. F. GARTY. 

